VAPOUR BARRIER
Keep a close eye on children, seniors and pets for signs of distress, frostbite
What happens when boiling water is thrown into the air when the wind chill is -32? The water turns into vapour that transforms into a cloud of tiny ice crystals. Edmonton remained under an extreme cold warning Thursday.
Edmonton’s deep freeze is only set to worsen due to a surge of cold Arctic air.
Environment Canada issued an extreme cold warning Thursday for Edmonton, St. Albert and Sherwood Park as temperatures were expected to hit a low of -33C Thursday night, with an extreme wind chill of -41C.
Friday is forecast to see a high of -28C and an extreme wind chill of -43C, with winds reaching up to 15 km/h.
An extreme cold warning is issued by Environment Canada when the temperature or wind chill is expected to reach levels ranging from minus -30C to -55C for at least two hours, depending on location.
The extreme weather is likely to persist until Sunday morning, said Environment Canada meteorologist Brian Proctor, but an upswing is expected beginning Sunday afternoon. Weather models show a Monday high of -13C.
In the meantime, people were encouraged to dress warmly and in layers with proper footwear, gloves or mitts and hats or tuques.
“Our skin can freeze in minutes when it gets that cold,” said Alberta Health Services representative Tracy Buffalo. She also recommends to watch children and seniors for symptoms of frostbite.
Extreme temperature can also make physical activity more difficult, said Buffalo.
ON THE BUS
Edmonton Transit Service has put its cold weather service into effect. Express buses, with the exception of Routes 15, 100, 540, 560, 561, 562, 580 and 747, will pick up commuters at all bus stops along their routes. The express buses will also make stops for passengers upon request.
The Stop Request program, in place all year, enables riders to request the operator stop anywhere along the bus route after 6 p.m. so long as it is safe to do so.
For drivers, police are reminding motorists to drive for the conditions and slow down.
Between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. Thursday, police from the southwest division reported four collisions along Whitemud Drive.
Officers from the northwest division said there were also icy conditions on Anthony Henday Drive.
Thursday was an exceptionally busy day for the Alberta Motor Association. More than 1,000 calls for service were placed, said Randy Loyk, manager of technical services.
Loyk estimates the service received approximately five times more calls than average since Boxing Day, many for boosting, lockouts and tires. The AMA urges owners to plug in their vehicles. Drivers should also ensure their fluids and fuel are topped up, drive to conditions and keep an emergency kit in their vehicles.
Loyk expected it to be “another busy day” Friday should cold conditions continue.
AT HOME
Edmontonians should also be conscious of the condition of their furnaces. Action Furnace and Capital Plumbing and Heating have both received a large volume of furnace repair requests.
Within an hour of opening after the holidays Wednesday, Capital Plumbing was booked for the next three days, said customer care representative Amanda Hauer.
Given the weather, Hauer expects call volume will only get worse. She recommends checking for clogged filters. Homeowners should also ensure the furnace switch is on, the thermostat is turned to auto and everything is correctly set up.
Environment Canada recommends people bring their pets indoors.
“If it’s too cold for you to stay outside, it’s too cold for your pet to stay outside,” reads the warning.